Guitar Lessons

Harmonic modes

Harmonic modes differ from diatonic modes by only one note. Harmonic minor scale is a natural minor scale (Aeolian) with sharp seventh degree. Harmonic major scale is a natural major scale with sharp fifth degree. Diminished seventh and augmented chords are characteristic to these modes.

Figure 1 is an illustration of harmonic modes on guitar fingerboard. Harmonic major is in the key of G and consists of following notes: G, A, B, C, D#, E, F#. Once you've learned diatonic modes it's fairly easy to switch to harmonic modes by raising only one note.